We are looking at buying our first travel trailer. We are a family of 7 with 5 kids ages 7 and under. Our tow vehicle is a Dodge 1500 with a 5.7. We are going to use a WD hitch to tow as well. For the time being we are going to travel in 2 vehicles, loading up our non towing vehicle with gear/kids. So the pick-up will not be exceeding payload. We have done the math with our weight and there are plenty of options within our weight limits. So length is my next concern. We are looking at some bunkhouse trailers and they all seem to be incredibly long. Some (most) of them are 30-34 feet with quad bunks. Even with double bunks (thinking we can double up kids for a while) are pushing 30 feet. That just seems like a lot of trailer for first timers and with our tow vehicle. Am I being overly cautious? Any thoughts on this? We are not in a position to upgrade our tow vehicle yet. So.........has anyone run into length being an issue for a vehicle this size? Any recommendations? We appreciate the input. Thanks.

Towing forward no problem, backing into tight spaces will take a little bit to get use to doing. Get the trailer that your TV can pull with enough space for the seven of you. With five kids you might want to get a outside screen room. :)

The bunkhouse is going to add 6-7 feet of more onto the standard living/dining/kichen/bedroom floor plan. So, yes, they are going to be longer. As long as the weights are right you should be ok. But the longer the trailer the more side winds will likely affect you. But that can be handled. Up to 34' would generally not be a problem in most campgrounds.

The longer the trailer the easier it is to back up.....all you need is maneuvering room in front of the truck to turn and swing things into place. I have a 6500 lb. 30 ft. trailer I pull with my Silverado 1500, 5.8 liter 3:42 geared 6 speed trans with 1666 payload and do so with no problems. If you stick with the ultra light models then you can tow it safely with what you have. Length is not that big an issue really if you stay with in you weight limits. Your truck needs to be in good mechanical condition with good load range E tires. Get the floor plan that works for you. That is the most important factor IMO or you will be trading it in after the first year when you find it doesn't fit your needs....and take a beating on the depreciation. Save your money for a new truck and get the trailer that works for you.

I have that same truck. Mine is a 2014 with a complete tow package. I tow a 5500 pound 25 foot long travel trailer, and my big fear with the amount of weight you will be towing is stopping on wet pavement. I have had two different occasions where on wet pavement just crawling and then putting on the brakes both the truck and trailer skidded just as if I was on black ice due to the weight.I consider myself a safe driver, and always take my foot off the gas and coast into traffic lights and cross roads, but on one of the occasions it was on a down hill and my rig skidded right into the middle of an intersection with the light against me.So be forwarned !jack L

We have found that anything over 30' really starts to restrict the number of sites available to fit in. Our 35' tt only fits in around 15 percent of sites in our local parks (not many pull through a here). Takes a lot more planning and reserving well in advance. Sometime the sites are listed as big enough but they were extremely difficult or impossible to get into because of narrow roads or entrances. Always seemed to be a tree or rock in the way. Never had that problem with our old 28'

trailer length | Good Sam Community

camp-n-family
Explorer
May 17, 2016
We have found that anything over 30' really starts to restrict the number of sites available to fit in. Our 35' tt only fits in around 15 percent of sites in our local parks (not many pull through a here). Takes a lot more planning and reserving well in advance. Sometime the sites are listed as big enough but they were extremely difficult or impossible to get into because of narrow roads or entrances. Always seemed to be a tree or rock in the way. Never had that problem with our old 28'
NanciL
Explorer II
May 17, 2016
I have that same truck. Mine is a 2014 with a complete tow package.
I tow a 5500 pound 25 foot long travel trailer, and my big fear with the amount of weight you will be towing is stopping on wet pavement.

I have had two different occasions where on wet pavement just crawling and then putting on the brakes both the truck and trailer skidded just as if I was on black ice due to the weight.

I consider myself a safe driver, and always take my foot off the gas and coast into traffic lights and cross roads, but on one of the occasions it was on a down hill and my rig skidded right into the middle of an intersection with the light against me.

So be forwarned !

jack L
ken56
Explorer
May 16, 2016
The longer the trailer the easier it is to back up.....all you need is maneuvering room in front of the truck to turn and swing things into place. I have a 6500 lb. 30 ft. trailer I pull with my Silverado 1500, 5.8 liter 3:42 geared 6 speed trans with 1666 payload and do so with no problems. If you stick with the ultra light models then you can tow it safely with what you have. Length is not that big an issue really if you stay with in you weight limits. Your truck needs to be in good mechanical condition with good load range E tires. Get the floor plan that works for you. That is the most important factor IMO or you will be trading it in after the first year when you find it doesn't fit your needs....and take a beating on the depreciation. Save your money for a new truck and get the trailer that works for you.
BB_TX
Nomad
May 16, 2016
The bunkhouse is going to add 6-7 feet of more onto the standard living/dining/kichen/bedroom floor plan. So, yes, they are going to be longer. As long as the weights are right you should be ok. But the longer the trailer the more side winds will likely affect you. But that can be handled.

Up to 34' would generally not be a problem in most campgrounds.
Calicajun
Explorer
May 16, 2016
Towing forward no problem, backing into tight spaces will take a little bit to get use to doing. Get the trailer that your TV can pull with enough space for the seven of you.

With five kids you might want to get a outside screen room. :)

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